12 Facts About Prithvi Narayan Shah

Who is Prithvi Narayan Shah?

Prithvi Narayan Shah, the founder of Modern(Greater) Nepal, was born on 11 January 1723 in the Gorkha kingdom of then Nepal. He was the first son of king Nara Bhupal Shah and his 2nd wife, Queen Kaushalyavati Devi. Prithvi Jayanti or National Unity day is celebrated annually on 11 January to commemorate his birthday. He ascended to the throne of Gurkha on 3 April 1743. He embarked on a campaign of conquering small states of Nepal. By 1769, he had united a large portion of the present of Nepal, forming a powerful kingdom. He died in 1775, at the age of just 52 at Devighat, Nuwakot. He was known for his military tactics and political acumen, and his legacy is still celebrated in Nepal as ” The Father of Modern Nepal”.

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Interesting Facts About Prithvi Narayan Shah

Today, we will discuss some interesting facts about the Late King Prithvi Narayan Shah, The founder of Modern Nepal.

1. Pre-mature Birth

Yes, Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah was indeed born prematurely in just the seventh month of his mother’s pregnancy.

2. Raised by Stepmother

Prithvi Narayan Shah’s education began at the age of 5 and the responsibility for this was taken by Mokchyeshwor and Bhanu Aryal. They were the astrologers working in the palace. Although the primary education of Prithvi Narayan Shah was provided by Gurus, the responsibility of developing his character was taken by his Stepmother (Queen Chandra Pravawati). She gave him lessons in archery, swordsmanship, horse riding, and more about politics, democracy, Ramayana, Mahabharat, etc until he turns 15 years old.

3. King by a luck

It is believed that Brinda Keshar Shah, the son of King Nara Bhupal Shah and his 3rd wife Queen Buddhimati, got the womb first. But as Prithvi Narayan was born in just the 7th month of pregnancy, he became the first to be born than Brinda Keshar Shah. This created a huge confusion among people regarding the selection of the crown prince. But Prince Brinda Keshar shah died when he was around 7 years old. So, after the death of King Nara Bhupal Shah in 1743, he ascended to the throne of Gorkha at the age of just 20.

4. Two Wives

Prithvi Narayan Shah was first married to Indra Kumari Devi, daughter of Hem Karna Sen, king of Makwanpur. He was only 14 years old. Shah had a daughter with his first wife known as Bilas Kumari Devi(Valas Kumari). In 1714, secondly, he married Narendra Rajya Laxmi Devi, the daughter of Abhiman Singh, a Rajput Chief from Varanasi (Banaras).

5. His link with Guru Gorakhnath

It is said that child Shah once met a Guru Gorakhnath near his cave in the forest. The Guru asked him to bring some curd. Then Shah went to his palace and narrated every event to his mother. His mother told him to follow whatever the guru said and handed him the curd. Following his mother’s words, Shah went back to the same place to meet the Guru. Guru Gorakhnath put the curd bought by Shah and regurgitated it to his hand and asked to drink it. A confused Shah rejected the offering, and the curd fell on the ground to his toes. Then Gorakhnath said to him that, he would conquer every piece of land wherever he stepped on.

6. Cursed by Gorakhnath

There is another myth regarding the above incident. It is believed as the curd fell on the ground by Shah, Guru Gorakhnath cursed him saying that his dynasty would not rule for more than 10 generations.

7. Unification campaign

Before his unification campaign, Nepal was divided into many small kingdoms as a group of 22 and 24 states. The Kathmandu valley was also ruled by three Malla kings with no unity and frequent internal conflict among each other.

8. Weapons and army reforms

After the failure of conquering Nuwakot, he focuses on strengthening the army’s skills. He brought experts to train his armies from Banaras. Similarly, he brought arms and ammunition and also opened weapons manufacturing workshops.

One year later, he successfully conquered Nuwakot with proper planning and reformed armies. He becomes successful in extending Nepal’s borders up to the Mechi river in the east after conquering the whole of Kathmandu.

9. Relocating the capital from Gorkha to Kathmandu

Prithvi Narayan Shah shifted the capital of Nepal to Kathmandu from Gorkha. He chooses Kathmandu over Gorkha due to various reasons. Some of the main reasons were:

• Kathmandu was a valley surrounded by hills, which is secured from a military point of view.
• The soil of Kathmandu valley was more fertile than that of Gorkha
• Kathmandu had trade route relations with India and Tibet for centuries even before the unification campaign of Prithvi Narayan Shah.
• Shifting capital to Kathmandu would make it easier to continue the Unification Campaign to the eastern parts.

10. Death on his Birthday

Yes, it is interesting that Prithvi Narayan Shah died on his 52nd birthday at Devghat. He was born on 11 January 1723 and died on 11 January 1775 at the age of 52.

11. Wives committed Sati

At that time, it was customary for a woman to kill herself in her own husband’s pyre as a part of the Hindu tradition known as Sati. So, both of his wives committed Sati on the same day when the late King Prithvi Narayan Shah’s final rites were conducted.

12. Compilation of Divyopadesh

At the end of his days, the shah was suffering from illness. Realizing his end is near, he organized an unofficial council meeting Known as Bhardaari-Sabha. In this meeting, he informed his sons, brothers, and other ministers about the reasons for the Unification of Nepal and the future policies regarding Nepal. The message he gave in this meeting was written down by his sons, brothers, and ministers and publish as Divyopadesh.

Some of his Divyopadesh:

1. “मेरा साना दुखले आर्ज्याको मुलुक होइन यो चार बर्ण छात्तिश जात सबैको साझा फूलबारी हो सबैलाइ चेतना भया”

Tans.

“This is not the nation gained by my trifle efforts; this is the garden of all four castes and 36 creeds, and may all be aware of this.”

2. “प्रजा मोटो भए दरबार पनि बलियो रहन्छ “

Tans.

“If the people are sound, the nation will prosper.”

3. “घुस लिने र दिने दुवै राष्ट्रका शत्रु हुन”

Tans.

“Both bribe takers and givers are the worst enemies of the nation.”

Other Facts:

• He considers Nepal as a ” Yam between two boulders” referring to Tibet on the north and ‘the Emperor of Seas’ on the south.
• He also proclaimed the newly Unified Nepal as Asal Hindustan ( The real land of Hindus) as Northern India was ruled by the Mughals as referred to Northern India as the country of Mughlan(country of Mughals)
• After his death, his eldest son ascended to the throne while his younger son (Bahadur Shah) and Rajendra Rajya Lakshmi Devi continue his Unification Campaign.

Also Read: About Gurungs, About Magars